Vapor-burning lamp.



PATENTED NOV. 27

W. MITCHELL. VAPOR BURNING LAMP.

APPLIOATION FILED Nov. a. 1903. BBNgWBD 00114, 1906.

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PATLNTLD Nov. '27, 1906. W. MITCHELL. y

VAPOR BURNING LAMP.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3. 1903. BBNEWED 00T.14, 1905.

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WILLIS MITCHELL, OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS.

VAPOR-BURNING LAIVIP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 27, 1906.

Application filed November 3, 1903. Renewed October 14.1905. Serial No. 282,810.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIS MIroHELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Malden, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vapor-Burning Lamps; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

VThe chief object of this invention is to increase the heating-surface, durability, convenience of manufacture, simplicity, and other desirable qualities of vapor-generators for lamps and other devices and to prevent the outflowing vapor from being chilled by proximity to the liquid fuel which flows into the generator. I therefore substitute for the cylindrically-coiled tube heretofore generally used, having its outlet extended down outside of the coil and near the inlet end, a solid generator-body having encircling passages or retorts formed therein and connected to constitute a continuous series, having the outlet through a longitudinal bore of the said body within the said series and protected and i heated thereby. This generator is so constructed and arranged with regard to the heating devices that the last of the retorts is heated most intensely, the others being heated less and less in succession, and that which first receives the fuel being heated least. The iiow of fuel through each retort is divided into two opposing streams, which meet and delay each other in passing to the next retort.

A further object of this invention is to provide for the convenient removability of the jet inlet or nozzle supplying vapor to the burner, whereby the substitution of a perfect jet for one with a worn and enlarged j et-hole may be effected without disturbing the generator or burner.

Another object of this invention is to insure more perfect and convenient control of the air-pressure on the liquid in the tank in starting the lamp and generally to improve the structure of said tan I and the other parts of the lamp structure.

To these ends the said invention consists in the construction and combination of parts hereinafter more particularly set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a vertical central section of a lamp embodying my invention, the generator and the valve-casing being shown in elevation and the so-called balcony which supports the chimney or dome having been removed. Fig. 2 represents a vertical sectional view of the upper part of the same, the generatorbody being left unsectioned and its cylindrical shell and burner-cap being slightly separated therefrom. Fig. 3 represents a vertical central detail view of the generatorbody, its stem, the lateral extension constituting the valve-casing, and the parts contained in or attached to the latter. Fig.

4 represents a detail perspective view of the slotted burner-cap and generator-shell slightly separated, and Fig. 5 represents the va ve-casing and associated parts in longitudinal section slightly separated from each other.

A designates the hollow cylindrical body of my improved generator, having a solid downward extension A and a short screwthreaded stem A on the lower end thereof, taking into a correspondingly-screw-threaded recess D in the upper end of the short main stem D of the lamp. This latter stem passes through an eye e in a supportingbracket E and is clamped there by a screw E. Its lower end is reduced and screw-threaded at d for engagement with the wall of the recess f of a block or plug F, screwed into the top of the globular tank or reservoir G, containing the liquid fuel.

An air and gas passage a extends from the lower end of the central space a of generatorbody A down through extension A', bending to the side of the latter near its lower end, where its inlet is supplied with air and gas from an air and gas mixing space h, the current being up through this passage a and space a to and through the slotted or foraminous burner-cap C', fitting on the cylindrical shell C. In the exterior part of body A are formed several circular grooves or retorts B. covered and completed by said shell and connected with each other by short grooves b, so that they constitute when said shell is in place a continuous cylindrical series of retorts in which the volatile liquid fuel is vaporiZed or reduced to a gaseous state. In this condition, usually that of a fixed gas, it Hows down through a small bore B', formed longi- IOO tudinally in the said body A, within the inner circumference of each of the said retorts to supply the jet I, which discharges into the mixing-chamber ZL.

The construction of the generator above described is obviously stronger and more durable than that of the coiled tube used, for example, in my Patent No. 722,601. As the retorts B are broadandgjshallow, the heat of the relatively great central volume of gas and air will be applied to the liquid fuel in said retortsuthroughuthehmediumjof the wall of said body to very great advantage, the body itself being raised to a high temperature.

There is no chance of any part getting into disorder, as might easily happen with fine coiled tubing. In case of obstruction the shell C is removed, and the retorts and con -necting-passages are at once open from end to end, whereas the interior of a fine coiled pipe is practically inaccessible. Manufacture is much more simple in the present instance, as there is only a simple casting to be made with one or two bores instead of the many windings of the coiled tube, which of course must itself first be produced and the ,careful adjusting and fastening of each one of them in place. Finally the outlet-bore B. is absolutely protected from all contact with or injurious proximity to the liquid fuel, and the heat of the gas iiowing through it is maintained by the very high temperature of the body A, in which the said bore is made.

The extension A is provided with an integral laterally-extending arm A3, bent down in an elbow a3 to form the air and gas mixing space h before mentioned, then out again horizontally, forming the valve-casing J. This casing has a longitudinal bore J', communieating with a bent extension of the small outlet-bore B before mentioned and receiving in its forward part the elongated jet or-nozzle I, (shown in detail in Fig. 5,) having in its side an inlet-hole i, registering with the said bore B and provided at its discharge end with a small jet-hole I. Theouter part of bore J is enlarged'to form a packing-box J 3, containing asbestos packing y, which surrounds the needle-valve K, .controlling said jet-hole. A tubular follower'L screws into the open end of this packing-box, engaging screw-threads on the inner face of its wall. This follower is internally screw-threaded toreceive a second follower L, which screws into it in like manner, and this again Ais screw-threaded to receive a screw Z, which bears against the head of the said needle-valve. This head is preferably spherical and fits a correspondingly concave shoulder Z of the second follower L. The office of follower L is to tighten the packing on the needle-valve and prevent the escape of gas; that of follower L and screw Z is to adjust the position of the point of the said valve with regard to the jet-hole, since the follower Ll engages the head of said valve to draw it back VAwhen follower is screwed outward and presses against .it when turned inward, and the screw Z may be used independently for this latter adjustment. It is very easy to take out these parts I, J, J2, K, L, L, and Z for cleaning, repair, or substitution without disturbing the generator or any other part of the lamp. This is important, as the jet-hole after a time wears to a size which will prevent the most advantageous use of the lamp, and in lamps constructed according to the said patent the inconvenience of changing the worn jet-block for a new one has been manifest. Incidentally it compels taking the neighboring elements apart and rearranging them. My present invention saves all such trouble.

M designates the shade-supporting balcony, which is attached to a cylindrical supl porting wall or shell M, the lower part of which is connected by screws m to the raised peripheral flange n of a broadcap or flanged base N, integral with the main stem of the lamp aforesaid. The shell M is provided with the usual screw-clamp O for supporting the mantle-rod, (not shown,) also with a screw-threaded valve P, working through v-said wall, to open and close at will a short lateral drip-passage p in extension A', tapping the inlet-bore Q, which supplies the series of retorts constituting the generator, as aforesaid. By opening this passage or outlet p the operator allows a small quantity of liquid fuel to drip down into the cup or ianged base N. After closing said passage again this oil may be ignited and serve for preliminary heating of the lamp. The same result may be attained by withdrawing the needle-valve a little; but the supply will be slower, and the valve has the advantage of beng available for use even while the lamp is burning in case a little extra heat should be .required The passage Q extends down through extension A and short stem A2 and connects with bore Q of the said main lampstem, which again communicates with the bore Q2 of the lower part of screw-plug F. The latter borev receives the upper end of a long gasolene-tube R, extending down within the globular reservoir or tank G to the lower part thereof. A tapering plug W, attached to a flexible false bottom S of this tank, enters the lower end of said pipe and will entirely close the same when forced up by an `adjusting-screw T, working through the bottom of said tank, which is thickened and screw-tapped at t to receive the same. This screw has a large knob T exterior to said tank for convenience of operation. On its inner end said screw also carries a disk or button T2, received in a box U, attached to the under side of the said false bottom, so that the movement of the said screw in either direction will move the plug W likewise, open- IIO IZO

ing or closing the tube R at will. V desig-15r nates an air-inlet to the said tank, closed by a check-valve V against any escape of air or vapor.

The operation is as follows: The plug' F is first removed, and the tank G is charged with gasolene or other liquid fuel. The screw T is turned to close the tube R. The screwthreaded air-inlet V is then connected to some air-forcing device, and air is forced into the tank sufficiently to maintain the feeding action of the lamp for a reasonable length of time. The air-forcing device is then disconnected and the tube R opened, when the airpressure in the tank will drive the liquid fuel through the tube and the bores Q Q to the retorts constituting the generator. The valve P is then opened, supplying the cup or iianged base N below, and the oil therein is ignited for preliminary he ating of the generator. The lamp is then ignited at the burnercap. The mantle acts as usual to intensify the flame and the air-pressure in the tank, forcing the gasolene up from one retort to the other. The last retort is so much more subject to the action of the heated gases checked in some degree by the burner-cap and eddying backward within the generatorbody and also in such close contact with the burner that the vaporization of the liquid has fully taken place at this point. The heating action of said point and eddying gases of course decreases steadily toward the first retort, where the heating action is least. The gas passing from the last retort directly to the jet in its hot condition has no chance to condense, and thus produces a satisfactory combustion. Vhen a greater amount of illumination or light is required, a greater amount of pressure is required. The amount of light is regulated by the amount of air-pressure in the reservoir. A supply can be pumped in at any time by a pump furnished with the lamp.

.Although the generator, the jet, and the proximate parts are shown and described herein as parts of a vapor-burning or gasburning lamp, they may of course be used with smoothing-irons, soldering-irons, and many other articles and structures employing easily-vaporizable liquid fuel. This is equally true of the tank. other cylindrical parts of course are not conned to that form, but may be square in cross-section or have any desired number of sides.

Many changes of form, proportion, or arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The retorts and connections constitute a continuous passage-way; but by connecting the circular retorts, as shown, by smaller grooves the current of vaporizable liquid is repeatedly divided and sent in opposite directions,meeting at each connecting-groove, and the double obstruction of op posing cur- The generator and rents and reduced passage-wayinsures perfect vaporization.

` Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A generator for lamps and other articles, consisting of a hollow part having a series of amiular retorts formed therein and connected by narrow passages, and provided with an outlet-bore extending clown through the body of said hollow part within the circumference of the said retorts, in combination with a burner at one end of the said hollow part, a jet supplied with gas or vapor through the said outlet and discharging into the interior of said hollow part at the other end thereof, means for supplying liquid fuel to the lowermost retort and means for conducting gas ,to the jet from the uppermost retort substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A generator for lamps and other articles consisting of a hollow part having a series of annular retorts formed therein and connected by narrow passages, in combination with a slotted burner-cap mounted on the top of the said hollow part, a jet discharging vapor or gas into the interior of said hollow part at the bottom thereof, means for conducting gas to said jet from the uppermost retort and means for supplying liquid fuel to the lowermost retort, the fuel being caused to flow through all the retorts in succession substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A generator for lamps and other articles consisting of a hollow part having a series of annular retorts formed therein and connected by passages distinct from said retorts, in combination with a burner at one end of said hollow part, a jet supplied with vapor or gas from the retort nearest to the said burner and discharging into the interior of the said hollow part at the other end thereof, means for conducting the gas or vapor from said retort to said jet, and means for supplying liquid fuel to the retort farthest from the burner,

.each retort being gas-tight except at a single point of inlet and a single point of outlet, and these points being in opposite parts of its circle, in order that the inflowing fuel may divide into two currents, which fiow in opposite directions partly around the said circle, meeting at the outlet of said retort substantially as set forth.

4. A generator forlamps and other articles, consisting of a hollow part having a series of annular retorts formed therein and connected by passages distinct from said retorts, in combination with a burner at one end of said hollow part, a j et-no'zzle supplied with vapor or gas from the retort nearest to the said burner and discharging into the interior ofthe said hollow part at the other end thereof, means for conducting the gas or vapor from said retort to the said jet-nozzle, means for supplying liquid fuel to the retort farthest from the IOO burner, a'valve-casinginclosing the said'noz zle7 arranged transversely with respect to said hollow part and leaving an air and gas mixing space between them and a needlevalve working through the said jet-nozzle to governthe jet-hole thereof, each retort being gas-tight except at a single point of inlet and a single point of outlet and these points being in opposite parts of its circle in order that. the inflowing fuel may divide into twocurrents which flow in 'opposite directions partly around the saidl circle, meeting at the outlet of said retort substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of a generatora jet nozzle and connecting devices providedtwithl a passage for. liquid and gas orL vapor, witha. tank provided with a flexible-false bottom, a tube connected withA said` passages and extending downwithin: saidA tank, a plug arranged to .close andvopen-the lower. end-of the said1tube, and a screw working through. the bottom of the -saidtank andiprovided witha head'4 orsbutton engagingthe said false bottom, to advance or withdraw-'thesaidplugat' will substantially. as set` forth,

6. A generator consistingof a hollow body, having annular grooves constituting retorts formedin its wall in vertical series and-having verticaly grooves of less diameter formed alsoin saidV wall, connecting said retorts to each other, and an inlet-passage and anfoutletepassage to and from the endretorts of the series, in combination with means for supplying liquid' fuel to the said inlet-passage, a. lamp-burner supported on-the said generator, and an approximately horizontal removable nozzle supplied with-gas or vaporv by said outlet-passage and discharginginto the hollow interior5of= saidgenerator-body, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. A generator consisting ofahollow body having retorts formed in-its wallvinlvertical series andfhaving passages formedalso inits wall, passages `connecting said retorts to each other,v and an inlet-passage andanoutlet-passage to and from the endretor-ts of the series, in combination withfmeansfor supplying liquid: fuel to theV said inlet-passage, a lampburner supported on the said generator, an approximately horizontal, removable nozzle supplied with gas orv vapor-by saidy outlet* passage andrdischarging. into the hollow. interior o saidgenerator-body and-atubular lateralarm rigid-with said generator-body andv inclosing andz supportingA the said nozzlel but permitting the flow ofY gas or vapor intothe same from the saidA outlet-passage substanf l tially as set fortha In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciiicationinthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.r

WILLIS MITCHELL.

Witnesses E. C. SUQUEs, HELENv P. TARBox. 

